On a constant basis Edge was the one and only highlight of WWE during a time (the mid-2000s) when there just wasn't a lot of good stuff going on (in my opinion). In that sense he kind of was what Shawn Michaels was in the mid-90s (before Austin came in, tore the house down and build it up again).

It's sad to see him go. But it's good he's still in one piece after all these ladder matches. Take care, Edgster! WWE's Hall of Fame is waiting for you.

What a way to go out. Edge's match with Del Rio at Wrestlemania was tremendous. Edge recieving bad news from an MRI scan is an odd coincidence for me, as this happened to me also last month. He was one of the greatest wrestlers of the 21st Century so far. I hope we don't have to wait long before WWE releases a new biopic on Edge.

Originally posted by Amos CochranI dunno, to me it reads like he's saying WWE forced his hand and wrestlers have worked hurt in the past and Edge should be able to do that too.

And how much of that is Hogan sneakily sending out a feeler for Edge to come work for TNA? "Yo, brother, down here WE ALL WORK HURT! If Vince won't let you, come down to TNA, brother!" Maybe a little? More than a little?

Hogan has always liked Edge; Edge was one of the "young guys" who impressed him in his WWE 2002 run. Plus they were WWE Tag Team Champions together, which I'm glad to say I was there for at the FleetCenter when they won the belts.

Ultimately, I think the final call to retire or not was Edge's. If he and WWE wanted him to press on regardless of his medical condition, Lord knows they would have found a way to and justify it. If WWE encouraged him to retire, shouldn't they be praised for doing so, and actually looking out for the well-being of one of their top talents? Yes, we all know WWE engages in questionable business practices, but they also have shown great capacity for trying to protect the health of their talent, and even protect the talent from themselves and the pressure they feel to perform, even when it's against their better interest.

It's a grey area - WWE sometimes seems to alter their policies and interest depending on who it is - but Edge has been a top guy for 5 years and a consistent and loyal performer for 13 years. Absolutely no bones have been made that Edge is going into the Hall of Fame. He's a WWE Special Creation. We'll see him again in some capacity, but it won't be in a TNA ring ready to die for a Vince Russo angle.

Originally posted by Amos CochranI dunno, to me it reads like he's saying WWE forced his hand and wrestlers have worked hurt in the past and Edge should be able to do that too.

And how much of that is Hogan sneakily sending out a feeler for Edge to come work for TNA? "Yo, brother, down here WE ALL WORK HURT! If Vince won't let you, come down to TNA, brother!" Maybe a little? More than a little?

Hogan has always liked Edge; Edge was one of the "young guys" who impressed him in his WWE 2002 run. Plus they were WWE Tag Team Champions together, which I'm glad to say I was there for at the FleetCenter when they won the belts.

Ultimately, I think the final call to retire or not was Edge's. If he and WWE wanted him to press on regardless of his medical condition, Lord knows they would have found a way to and justify it. If WWE encouraged him to retire, shouldn't they be praised for doing so, and actually looking out for the well-being of one of their top talents? Yes, we all know WWE engages in questionable business practices, but they also have shown great capacity for trying to protect the health of their talent, and even protect the talent from themselves and the pressure they feel to perform, even when it's against their better interest.

It's a grey area - WWE sometimes seems to alter their policies and interest depending on who it is - but Edge has been a top guy for 5 years and a consistent and loyal performer for 13 years. Absolutely no bones have been made that Edge is going into the Hall of Fame. He's a WWE Special Creation. We'll see him again in some capacity, but it won't be in a TNA ring ready to die for a Vince Russo angle.

I'm in total agreement here John. Thisn't like Angle who was released because he refused rehab and didn't listen to medical advice; retirement would imply a degree of consent on Edge's part.

The lack of feeling or numbness of the arms reminds me of someone else who apparently had that happen; Arn Anderson, who happens you work as an agent for the WWE. Steamboat also had to retire early thanks to an injury. Edge probably is aware of this and may have thought "Arn retired, Steamboat retired. Maybe I should".

At the end of the day, one of the leading neurosurgeons in the world today told Edge he can't compete. Period. That's like Dr. James Andrews telling you "don't throw a curveball again" type of stuff.

We won't see Edge on TNA wrestling, or I'll eat my hat.

(edited by El Nastio on 12.4.11 1213)After a (very) long hiatus, I have begun to write again. And this time, I'm not alone!

Originally posted by Matt TrackerEven in an era of title reign inflation, Edge still has a remarkable trophy cabinet

Four straight years in a Wrestlemania world title match. Cena-like run of championship contention.

I dunno, I can kinda see what Big Bad is saying. He was always in contention, but was never really The Man, was he? Wasn't he usually the "oh yeah, we have another champion" champion when he held the title? Was he ever The Guy they focused on? I saw him more or less as a slight step below the Best of the Best -- always in the hunt, could hold the belt solidly, but never really stood out from everyone lese. Still a great career, of course.

"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." --- Bart Giamatti, on baseball

Originally posted by Amos CochranI dunno, to me it reads like he's saying WWE forced his hand and wrestlers have worked hurt in the past and Edge should be able to do that too.

And how much of that is Hogan sneakily sending out a feeler for Edge to come work for TNA? "Yo, brother, down here WE ALL WORK HURT! If Vince won't let you, come down to TNA, brother!" Maybe a little? More than a little?

Hogan has always liked Edge; Edge was one of the "young guys" who impressed him in his WWE 2002 run. Plus they were WWE Tag Team Champions together, which I'm glad to say I was there for at the FleetCenter when they won the belts.

Ultimately, I think the final call to retire or not was Edge's. If he and WWE wanted him to press on regardless of his medical condition, Lord knows they would have found a way to and justify it. If WWE encouraged him to retire, shouldn't they be praised for doing so, and actually looking out for the well-being of one of their top talents? Yes, we all know WWE engages in questionable business practices, but they also have shown great capacity for trying to protect the health of their talent, and even protect the talent from themselves and the pressure they feel to perform, even when it's against their better interest.

It's a grey area - WWE sometimes seems to alter their policies and interest depending on who it is - but Edge has been a top guy for 5 years and a consistent and loyal performer for 13 years. Absolutely no bones have been made that Edge is going into the Hall of Fame. He's a WWE Special Creation. We'll see him again in some capacity, but it won't be in a TNA ring ready to die for a Vince Russo angle.

I think WWE should be commended, assuming they played a role in Edge's decision. I'm sure they could pressure him to at least drop the title and in the past they might have, but this coupled with showing Angle the door (after trying to help him first) show a positive trend. And maybe their handling of the Hardy situation? I don't really know the details.

I agree that Edge isn't going anywhere, that's the key difference between the Hardy and Angle situations. Edge's speech last night seemed genuine.

why are there so many BIGS followed by short a vowel sounds. like two of them.

Originally posted by HokienauticHe was always in contention, but was never really The Man, was he? Wasn't he usually the "oh yeah, we have another champion" champion when he held the title? Was he ever The Guy they focused on?

Well, put it this way. For almost 3 straight years, he was in the main event world title feud on Raw then Smackdown with John Cena, Batista, Undertaker, Cena again, and Jeff Hardy when they were all the #1 face on their show.

Josh is doing a fine job. Lawler is the guy who needs replacing IMO. That's been the case for years. I can certainly see Edge being involved in some capacity in the future - he loves the business - but surely he's earned a few months to rest up first? And who knows, like Shawn Michaels' back injury seemed career-ending at first, perhaps he will be able to return in a few years...

Originally posted by El NastioSo take Hogan's tweets, and contrast them with one of the people in his company;

"Edge, 1 of the GREAT guys in the biz. Awesone talent & awesome guy! I live the numbness in arms due to neck issues also, scary.Be well bro" - Tazz.

I am also thinking Hogan invoking Foley's name is going to lead to a Foley response TNA may not like. Say, I was supposed to be in Orlando for a Lockdown party, but now I have other things going on. Hogan has to have the spotlight on him and thats all these tweets are about. I say we move on and talk about how great it will be when Edge and Booker argue about shampoo when they announce a PPV or Smackdown together.

Just a random memory -- I remember when word first started getting around about Edge's initial neck injury. Wasn't it said that someone saw him, Christian, and a few others in a local Applebee's after a card and they were told about the injury? I remember it mostly because someone here posted that they just kept picturing Edge saying, "We are SO eating good in the neighborhood!!"

Originally posted by JustinShapirowhy are there so many BIGS followed by short a vowel sounds. like two of them.

Originally posted by HokienauticHe was always in contention, but was never really The Man, was he? Wasn't he usually the "oh yeah, we have another champion" champion when he held the title? Was he ever The Guy they focused on?

Well, put it this way. For almost 3 straight years, he was in the main event world title feud on Raw then Smackdown with John Cena, Batista, Undertaker, Cena again, and Jeff Hardy when they were all the #1 face on their show.

Edge was a great heel, and played the ultimate opportunist thing so well. That's why he might not have seemed credible all the time because he -always- took shortcuts but he is one of those guys that made your babyface looks much better/more believable.

Originally posted by dMpEdge was a great heel, and played the ultimate opportunist thing so well. That's why he might not have seemed credible all the time because he -always- took shortcuts but he is one of those guys that made your babyface looks much better/more believable.

What could the guy not do? My biggest complaint about him was that he too often used pulled his hair to express intensity or dismay. That's it.

He obviously could work hardcore matches. He had two impact finishers (the spear and implant DDT), and he had a submission finisher, which he recently dusted off as he prepared to face Del Rio at WM. He could work against Rey and Taker. He can talk for days. He has all the goods.

His verbal smackdown of X-Pac remains devastating and funny: 1998 called, and they're sick and tired of you.

Edge was always one of my favorite undercard dudes during the Attitude era. From his promo videos to his crazy "through the crowd" entrance, there was a lot of potential that I wasn't sure he'd realize but I was rooting for him.

I remember when he first won the Intercontinental Title from Jeff Jarrett back in 1999 and lost it within 24 hours, thinking "Man, they're never gonna give this guy a shot." Thankfully, he had a lot of bigger and better things ahead of him.

By the time he was finally WWE/World Champion, I had tuned out, but I always thought he was one of the guys that should be at the top of the card by this time.

It's probably best that he go out on top, and while he can still walk. He did it. He made it. Good for him.

WWE News: Details on Edge's condition that led to his retirement, WWE says they could never clear Edge to wrestle again

Apr 12, 2011 - 12:18:50 AM

By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

WWE issued a release on Monday night following Edge's retirement announcement with their version of medical details that led to Edge's sudden retirement.

-- Edge had been suffering "numbness and uncontrollable trembling" in his arms and hands. It was determined Edge was suffering from nueropraxia, which is a common condition for pro athletes who suffer a severe injury affecting their nervous system.

-- When Edge returned to the ring following spinal fusion surgery in 2003, the continued wear and tear of wrestling narrowed his spinal column above the fused discs.

As a result, there was "less and less" vital fluid in Edge's system protecting the spinal cord. Edge mentioned on Raw he could have ended up in a wheelchair if he continued to wrestle. WWE noted: "Medical professionals cannot clear Edge to compete ever again in WWE since doing so could result in paralysis or even death."

-- The MRI that Edge mentioned during his retirement speech on Raw was administered at Atlanta Midtown Diagnostic Imaging last Monday, April 4, the day after his now-final match against Alberto Del Rio at WrestleMania 27 in Atlanta.

-- WWE's chief medical director, Dr. Joseph Maroon, reviewed the MRI and determined that Edge "would never be cleared to compete again," forcing Edge to retire from the ring.

Everyone involved did the right thing to potentially save Edge's life. I'm glad.

I was there for his first WWF/E match at Copps Coliseum. He wrestled as Sexton Hardcastle, and his outfit was basically long tights with a large star on the rear. As for who he wrestled, I'm drawing a blank right now. I remembered he seemed promising.

I feel he's far too young to be retiring, but since it's for medical reasons, what can you do. One of my favorites.